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Iowa Central faces NIACC in semifinals

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Iowa Central women get a third crack at No. 12 North Iowa Area here Saturday, as the two collide in the first Region XI semifinal.

Tip is set for 3 p.m. following the first semifinal between second-ranked Kirkwood and Southeastern, which begins at 1 p.m.

Iowa Central (17-14 overall) earned a stunning overtime victory vs. Iowa Lakes at home this past Wednesday night in the quarterfinals, 79-74.

Sophomore Rachel Toto scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, including a game-tying 3-pointer that forced the extra session, finishing with a team-high 18. Brittany West had a double-double, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, with Mardaeja Cross adding 15 points, nine boards and five assists.

Kryssie Okinaka, a member of the national-qualifying volleyball team at Iowa Central this past fall, posted eight points with four assists. Okinaka and Cross combined for 11 of the 12 Triton points in overtime.

NIACC rolled past Ellsworth in the quarterfinals earlier this week, 105-40, stretching its win streak to six in a row. They have went over the 100-point mark in back-to-back games and 12 times overall, including 134 back in November.

Overall, NIACC ranks second in points per game (94.8) and total points (2,939), while being first in field goal attempts per game at 86. They are also first in made 3-pointers per game (14.5), 3-point attempts (45) and second in assists (20).

The Trojans won both meetings with Iowa Central by scores of 76-67 and 93-73.

The winners meet at Johnson Hall on Sunday for a spot in the NJCAA Div. II Championship, which goes down March 20-24 in Harrison, Arkansas.

Iowa Central split its two regular season games with Southeastern, falling 62-54 and winning 53-45. They were swept by Kirkwood (72-47 and 80-39).

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